Andrew Sandler, or his online alias Hedgedrew, is a dedicated and real hardcore reefer with several amazing set ups. A cumulative total of roughly 1,600 gallons comprising numerous set ups, including amongst others a 1,250 gallon SPS tank, a butterfly reef, and a dedicated 90 gallon tank housing a pair of Peppermint Angelfishes. Continue reading for some videos of Andrew’s amazing personal home systems.
The largest and most impressive system of Andrew’s is his amazing and very matured 1,250 gallon full blown SPS reef. In the video above you can see how large and most importantly, colourful the SPS corals are. The colonies are also cleverly placed to suit the aquascape, with large branching staghorns placed nearer to the top and the plating as well as more compact species are placed in the middle or bottom. The overall result, a scenic non cluttered and neat arrangement.
The fishes are mostly made up of large Acanthurus, and if you look closely, a beautiful group of blue regal tangs weave in and out of the staghorns just like in the wild. A huge thousand gallon tank makes these active and large surgeonfishes look minuscule in comparison. We’re really digging the large harlequin sweetlips as well – a highly unorthodox and daring addition for a reef tank.
Take your time to watch this video above that summarises and shows a few other set ups of Andrew’s. First is his 90 gallon deepwater tank featuring a pair of peppermint angels, as well as a single narcosis angelfish. Like many others who were brave enough and could afford a peppermint, Andrew has met with much set back. His original pair was uncooperative in pairing, and had one eventually harassing the weaker one to death. He didn’t stop there and attempted pairing with a third individual, and this has led, fortunately, to good success. The lone narcosis angelfish is a second piece. The first one, like many others around the world, died of unknown reasons despite appearing seemingly healthy.
If you continue watching the video, you’ll see that Andrew has another large reef set up featuring numerous butterflyfish and angelfish species. A bold and daring choice but one that I personally take extreme pleasure in witnessing. Butterflyfish are the epitome of reef fish in my opinion, and there’s nothing quite like having them in your reef tank. We had a previous article on reef safe or rather, safer options for your reefs but Andrew here has chosen all but the worst kinds! And we’re totally digging it!
Here he has a pair of Chaetodon daedalma, a trio of C. paucifasciatus, C. tinkeri, C. fasciatus, C. semilarvatus, C. mesoleucos, C. declivis, C. collare, Chelmon rostratus and even the obligate coralivorous Chaetodon trifasciatus. That’s a lot of very unsafe coral eating species but the health of his corals speaks volume. A wonderful risk and it certainly adds edge and a curious juxtaposition between his fish and his corals.
With so many systems and so many fish, you’d bet your bottom dollar that Andrew has a fully functional and just as impressive equipment room to run his numerous tanks. The video shows all kinds of gadgets and gizmos including a huge protein skimmer to help filter, clean, dose and maintain his tanks. The numerous surgeon and butterflyfishes also give numerous opportunities for nasty disease outbreaks.
When I spoke on the phone with Andrew and asked about his quarantine regimes, his answer was surprisingly simple. Most of his fishes are only selectively treated with praziquantel and other therapeutic drugs, and are mostly conditioned in his refugium before going into the display. No usage of copper unless absolutely necessary, and only when he knows for sure he has something that requires it. Very often time our own paranoia get the better of us and we start pumping toxins and drugs in freshly obtained fish even without letting them settle in and diagnosing the problem. Sometimes there may just be no problem.
It also helps that every system is connected with UV sterilisers that help keep his water clean and pathogens at bay. With a system chock full, and we mean loaded, with angelfish, butterflyfish and surgeonfish species, whatever he must be doing, he’s doing it right. Those fish are in the pink of health and look amazing. We’d like to thank Andrew and Yalcin for sharing with us his amazing home set ups.
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